[Evaluation of Norwalk virus detection kit by enzyme immunoassay]

We briefly examined detection kit using the EIA method for Norwalk virus, and compared the results of the tests using the EIA method with those using RT-PCR method. In reproducibility, an amount of variation was observed in data obtained from positive controls and in lower values. The sensitivity obtained from the EIA method was about 300 times lower than that obtained from the RT-PCR method. Results accordance ratio between EIA method and RT-PCR method was 70%. This results discrepancy was presumably caused by a difference of sensitivity and specificity between these two methods. In conclusion, this detection kit using the EIA method is easily manually operated so that this kit can be considered as an effective and simple detection tool for Norwalk virus.